Method for straightening and testing filled cans



Oct. 14, 1941.- PEARLMAN ETAL 2,258,802

METHOD FOR STRAIGHTENING AND TESTING FILLED CANS Original Filed June 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1941. PEARLMAN ETAL 2,258,802

METHOD FOR STRAIGHTENING AND TESTING FILLED CANS Original Filed June 15, 1939 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. i4, 1941 UNITED STATE METHOD FOR STRAIGHTENING AND TESTING FILLED CANS Jack Peariman, East Hempstead, Long Island, and Hjalmar Kittiisen, Springfield Gardens, N. Y.

Original application June 15, 1939, Serial No. 279,362. Divided and this application March 23, 1940, Serial No. 325,620 I g 2 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to straightening devices for cylindrical objects but it more especially is directed to a method for removing dents and straightening filled cans, and constitutes a division of the application entitled, Method and apparatus for straightening and testing filled cans, Serial No. 279,362, filed June 15, 1939.

Filled cans, by reason of various kinds of accidents during course of handling, frequently become dented and likewise bulged, rendering the cans unfit for sale except at a reduced price, thereby not only entailing extra expense in handling but net loss, and, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a method for removing surface irregularities from filled cans, which consists in imparting a blow to the exterior surface of a filled can, the blow being delivered under such conditions that the forces setup by said blow will react with the various surfaces of the canto remove allirregularities therefrom.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a method of this character which consists in confining the ends and upper half .of the cylindrical surface of a filled can within rigid surfaces, subjecting the remaining half of. the cylindrical portion of the can to a blow, said blow being delivered under such, conditions that the forces set up thereby will react with the various surfaces of the can to remove all irregularities therefrom.

In cans filled with foodstuffs of various types, by reason of unforeseen contamination during the can filling operation or in connection with the food itself, not frequently causes bacterial action sumption, and such action causing swells or bulging of the can, usually at its ends. This situation gives rise to a rigid inspection and in the past it has been difficult to determine whether such irregularities in the contour of the can are to develop, rendering the contents unfit for conportant object of this invention is its utilization as a testing means not only for straightening out the irregularities but in so doing constituting a testing means for determining whether the irregularities were caused by external forces or by deterioration of the contents.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combimore fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which. like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of our improved can straightening mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a slightly modified form.

Fig. 5 is an end View of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View partly in section of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of sectional adaptor or removable shell.

The devices with which we are familiar for re moving the irregularities from filled cans have proven'deficient for many reasons, some of which are: incapable of satisfactory operation, too complex and costly to manufacture and operate, affecting the normal condition of the contents, as, for instance, by a centrifugal device, which in certain types of foodstuffs efiects changes in their physical characteristics and consistency; and it was to overcome such disadvantages by providing a segmental base member and a complemental vertically movable drop block member, each of said segmental members adapted to embrace onehalf of a filled can, said block member having adjustable end plates or dies and means for moving the dies into engagement with the ends. of the can and automatically locking them in canengaging position and maintaining the can in seating position within said block, a magnet mounted in the base block, a series of reduction shells adapted to be mounted in the hollowed out portions of said blocks to interchangeably fit different sized cans, said movable block being mounted on guides rigidly carried by the base block, means associated with said guides and movable block to effect elevation of the block and can and releasable to permit gravity descent of said block and can unit to cause a sudden or sharp impact of the non-confined half of the can with the base block to effect removal of irregularities in the surface contour of the can, that I designed the method forming the subject matter of this invention.

Although other forms of apparatus may be employed to carry the instant method into effect, one very satisfactory type of apparatus consists of a device A comprising a substantially rectangular base member I hollowed out as at 2 to snugly embrace one-half of a filled can and nation and arrangement of parts, hereinafter t is recessed underlying said cut-out portion as at 3, and suitably mounted in said recess is a magnet 4 hollowed out similar to portion 2 in member I, and adapted to be connected to a suitable source of electrical energy not shown. The rear side of member I is formed spaced from each end with threaded openings 5 adapted to receive the threaded stud bolts 6 extending through the spaced parallel perpendicular guide bars I. A complemental drop slide block 8 having semicircular hollowed out portion 9 corresponding to the hollowed out portion 2, to seatingly receive one-half of the filled can, is adapted when not in use to seat on base I. A sleeve guidemember II] is slidably mounted on each of the guides I and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the rear side of block 8. Block 8 is'formed on its upper surface with a centrally disposed upstanding integral post II, formed with a threaded opening I2 adapted to receive the threaded end of the pivot or bearing pin l3 extending through the upright lever Id at a point spaced from its lower end.

Associated with block S is an arm I5, in the present instance, having a horizontal section It and a depending section IT, with the free end of said section I6 pivotally mounted on stud bolt I8 threadedly or otherwise engaged in lever I4 as at I9, and a substantially similar arm 28 having a horizontal section 2I, similar to l5 except extending in the opposite direction, and a depending section 22, with the free end of section 2| pivotally mounted on bolt 23 threadedly or otherwise engaged in the lower end of lever I4 as at 24 on the opposite side of bolt I3 from bolt I8. Suitably mounted on the free ends of arms I5 and are the end die or can end engaging members 25. Mounted on the upper surface of block 8 are the guide members 26, through which arm I6 is adapted to operatively extend, and substantially similar guides 21 are similarly mounted on block I8 opposite to guides 25 and through which arm 2| is adapted to operatively extend. The contacting faces of dies or plates 25 may be formed to correspond with the end configuration of standard cans and these dies are adapted to be interchangeable in accordance with different sized cans. A removable sectional shell 28 is adapted to fit in block I and base 2, section 29 of which is adapted to seat and be suitably mounted in the hollowed portion 9 and section 30 adapted to seat in the hollowed out portion 2 of base I. It is apparent that shells 28 of different sizes may be interchangeable to engage cans of different sizes, and/or a series of nested sections 29 and 38 may be employed as reduction elements for different sized cans if desired.

When the dies 25 are in can engaging position the lever I 4 is substantially perpendicular, and in order to maintain the lever in such position, an opening SI is formed in member II and mounted in said opening is a spring 32 and ball 33 adapted to seat in the indentation 34 formed in the rear surface of lever I4 for automatically maintaining said lever in locked position, but permitting release when manually operated.

An eyescrew 35 is threadedly or otherwise suitably secured in the upper end of post II to which is secured one end of cable 36, said cable extending upwardly and over pulley 3! rotatably journaled on shaft 38 suitably mounted in the upper ends of guides I, and extending downwardly under pulley 39 suitably anchored below device A, and with its end secured as at 40 to one end of treadle 4I rockingly mounted on shaft 42 suitably mounted in the upper end of base support 43, as will be well understood. It will be noted that when the dies are in closed position with the can therebetween there will be a slight space between the meeting faces of the dies.

While the operation of the device would seem to be clear from the above description, it might be well to further state that depression of treadle 4| through cable 36 eifects separation of the dies and elevation of die 8 to permit the filled can to be positioned in hollowed out portion 9 whereupon movement of handle or lever I4 from its die opening position as shown in dotted outline as at (a) to substantially perpendicular position moves dies 25 in meeting direction and into pressing engagement with the ends of the can and when the force is removed from said lever l4 spring 32 will urge ball 33 into indent 34 thereby maintaining the lever in can gripping position and the can in die seating position. Treadle 4| is then depressed to elevate die 8 together with the can to the desired height on guides I, and release of said treadle permits die 8 and the can to drop, causing the lower half of the can to engage the base die I with a sudden or sharp impact thereby causing opposed forces of the dies and can contents to straighten or remove irregularities from the surface contour of the can B.

While the drop block or impacting die section 8 is preferably operated by the treadle mechanism as above described, it also may be manually operated by handle 44 suitably mounted thereon.

The magnet 4 in connection with certain types of contents and where the can is slack filled is of special advantage in case of fine dents or very slight irregularities. It will be further observed that if the can is flattened and wider in one direction the widest diameter should be placed so as to come within the hollowed-out portions 9 and 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are directed to a modified form, which is substantially similar to the form previously described, the principal differences being that the arms I5 and 20 have been modified to increase their adjustable range with respect to difierent length cans.

In this form arm sections I I and 20, each preferably comprising two metal strips, are pivotally mounted substantially central of their length as at 45 on the ends of rods 48 suitably secured in the ends of block 8 and extending laterally therefrom. Sections I6 and 2| are severed central of their length and connected by turn buckles 41 by means of which they are adjusted, 'as will hereinafter be more fully explained. Sections I1 and 20' are pivotally connected at their upper ends to sections I6 and 26 by pins 48 and 49, respectively, and at their lower ends by pins 59 and 5|, respectively, to lugs 52, integrally or otherwise formed on the end dies or plates 25'. It will be seen that operation of sections I1 and 20 efiects adjustments of dies 25, and in order to permit their freedom of movement and adjustment to cans of difierent lengths they are formed with spaced ears 53 apertured to receive the pins 54 threadedly or otherwise connected to the ends of block 8 and on which guide pins said dies 25 are slidably maintained in proper position.

A metal strip 55 suitably bent to form handle 44 is mounted transversely on the upper surface of block 8 with its perpendicular end portions 56 suitably secured thereto. This handle frame member also takes the place of post ll. Handle I4 is pivotally mounted on pin 5! journaled in front end portion 56 and having rigidly mounted ,on its opposite end disc 58 to one side of which lever to end die disengaging position, as shown 1 in dotted outline at a, in whichl position plunger mechanism 6| engages a similar opening 62 to maintain the dies 25 in open position. Eye screw 35' is bolted or otherwise secured to handle 44 and to which is secured one end of cable 36' similar to cable 36 heretofore described and by means of which impacting die may be similarly operated.

It will be thus seen that the handle structure 44' not only serves as means for manually operating the die 8 but also takes the place of post II to constitute a mounting for lever l4 and it is also apparent that the action of lever I4 with respect to end dies 25' is similar to that described in connection with lever l4 and dies 25, except that the connecting arm structure through the instrumentality of turn buckles 41 effects adjustment of end dies 25' to cans of different lengths. It is therefore apparent that except as modified to effect adjust-ability of dies 25' the form illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is similar to the form described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

From the above it is apparent that we have designed a can straightening method by means of which it is possible to remove irregularities from the contour of the can and also to determine whether the irregularities, especially with reference to the ends of the can, are caused from the application of exterior force such as dropping the can, denting it, etc., or from the deterioration of the contents so that only the cans damaged from the latter cause may be discarded.

With reference to the use of the preceding method for determining Whether the irregularities are due to the effect of the handling of the can or to deterioration of its contents, if from the former the removal of the irregularities will be permanent, but if from deterioration of the contents they will instantly return.

Although in practice we have found that the form of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most efiicient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of our invention will necessarily vary, we desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, What we desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A method for removal of surface irregularities from filled cans, which consists in confining the ends and upper half of the cylindrical surface of a filled can within rigid surfaces, confiningly and simultaneously subjecting the remaining half of the cylindrical portion of the can to a sudden blow, said blow being delivered under such conditions that the forces set up thereby will react with the various surfaces of the can to remove all irregularities therefrom.

2. A method for removal of surface irregularities from filled cans consisting in applying pressure to the opposite ends of the can by rigid surfaces, and then subjecting the can to sudden impact to generate forces circumferentially of the can while at the same time surrounding the can with non-yielding reaction surfaces whereby the generated forces will react with the various surfaces of the can to remove all irregularities therefrom.

JACK PEARLMAN. HJALMAR KITTILSEN. 

